What was the hardest part of filming new movie musical Les Miserables for Hugh Jackman?Being away from his family.

“This was the first time I’d been away from my family, and it was, I’ve got to say, it was a brutal experience,” Jackman told Matt Lauer of filming the role of Jean Valjean on Monday’s Today. “I’m not sure if I would do it again. But Deb [my wife] is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

While Jackman had to make the hard sacrifice of being away from his family for three months to film the “role of a lifetime,” the actor also made an amazing physical transformation for the role.

The normally buff star lost almost 20 pounds prior to the start of filming to appear emaciated. “I do remember my wife looked at [me] and she gripping my hand, she was sort of worried for me,” he said of his gaunt state.

But by the time filming ended, the star had gained the weight back, putting on 30 pounds.

The filming of Les Miserables was very different than most Broadway-musicals-turned-movies as the stars of the highly anticipated film sang live for every scene; Sometimes, for 12 hours a day.

“I’ve never been on a film like it before,” said Jackman. “We rehearsed for nine weeks, we all knew each other, spent time together, [co-star] Russell Crowe would have very famous parties in his house Friday nights, great sing-alongs, and everybody was there for everybody else.”

Much of the rest of the cast of Les Miserables including Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried and Sacha Baron Cohen also appeared on Today briefly with Jackman prior to his in-studio interview. He then headed over to Live! with Kelly and Michael where he dished more about Crowe’s parties and his preparation for the role.

Watch Jackman’s interview withLauer above and a portion of his interview with Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan below.

Les Miserables opens nationwide on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

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